Background
He was the fifth but second surviving son of Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and Magdalene Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst.
He was the fifth but second surviving son of Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and Magdalene Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst.
In 1725 he entered in the Imperial army and fought in Italy and Hungary. In the Battle of Grocka he was wounded and then spent some time in Altenburg to recover. Later he reasumed his military duties and fought in the War of the Austrian Succession in Silesia, Bohemia, Bavaria and the Rhine.
He eventually became Imperial Field Marshal and received his own dragoon regiment.
He lived with his family in Stadtroda, where shortly before his death received a visit of King Frederick the Great of Prussia.